Article: Straight Talk About Psychosis

---- This article was not written by me. It is being reprinted with permission ----

I like to talk about psychosis- I want people to see that it has been around forever and that it's a very normal part of many mental illnesses, especially bipolar disorder- and yet it freaks people out. If you've ever been psychotic, it freaks you out too!

Here is a brief definition.

Psychosis is defined as a loss of contact or break with reality, which shows itself in a number of different ways including the following: paranoid thoughts- is someone talking about me, looking at me funny or following me? Hallucinations- where you see, hear or smell something that isn't there. Such as a rat running around a chair or hearing a voice that says, "Julie, you need to get out of this store!" Suicidal thought such as, 'Take that gun and kill yourself," are psychotic. I had my first p sychotic thoughts in the form of hallucinations- when I got stressed and I was standing on a street corner- actually that doesn't sound too good- when I was waiting for a cross walk light- I saw myself walk into the street- and get hit by a car. My body would fly in the air and land right on the street in front of me. It scared me a lot. I used to call these visions 'death images' because I didn't know what they were. I thought everyone had them. I used to see a lot of dead bodies and severed hands when I walked in the woods too. That is just one symptom I had. These are all psychotic hallucinations.

Then there are delusions- where you have very unrealistic or even bizarre beliefs. I once drove by a beer commercial billboard and thought, "Is that a message for me? Did I do something wrong with that beer last night?' I would never drink that nasty beer anyway- but it seemed real. Psychosis is basically your brain going wonky- all of the chemicals and neurons that normally process information correctly start to process information both internally and externally falsely. What is hard to explain if you've never been psychotic is how real it feels. For example, when I get paranoid, I really believe it. Even if there is absolutely no information to prove that the feelings are real. Paranoia was always really bad for me in a classroom setting.

I've learned to manage my psychosis by keeping away from my triggers such as large groups, arguments and messing with my meds. I know the first signs that I'm getting sick and I talk myself out of it. If a voice tells me I have to leave somewhere, I say to myself, "Actually, I don't. That is just a voice and I'm not listening." I can work around it now- and I always know that when I get psychotic, I'm doing too much.

Mild psychosis can be self treated and major psychosis can be prevented by knowing the signs it's starting and getting help immediately. This may sound unrealistic, considering how serious psychosis can get, but there is usually a treatment window.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Julie A. Fast, best selling author of Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder and Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder and Get It Done When You're Depressed is a critically acclaimed six-time author, award winning bipolar disorder advice columnist, national speaker, and sought after expert in the fields of bipolar disorder and depression. Julie's work specializes in helping people manage all aspects of their daily lives - despite the complications that bipolar disorder creates. To learn how to personalize a plan to help yourself or a loved one find and create stability that ensures the quality of life that we all deserve, visit: BipolarHappens.com

I'm off to Girl Guide Camp

I'm leaving soon to be a Leader at a Girl Guide summer camp. I'll be gone until Saturday July 25th however I have a few posts set up to automatically post during the week so be sure to check back and feel free to leave comments of course!

Remember, eat well, get sleep, get exercise, deep breathe and do some relaxation every day!

Mental Health Magazines

I was scanning the internet for mental health magazines and this is what I found. If you know of others, please comment!

BP Magazine (US) (Internation orders accepted but more expensive, however...)

BP Hope (CA) (Same magazine as above, but I think you can order from Canada for normal price)

Moods Magazine

Plant a Flower for Children's Mental Health

Today's Parent magazine has a campaign for Healthy Kids 2009. Read about the Healthy Kids campaign.

Want to plant a flower for Children's Mental Health?

Also check out:

Parenting a Child with Bipolar Disorder

What to do when access to treatment for your mentally ill child is delayed

Kids and Anxiety

Mental Health Resources (Canada)

Coping Skills... What do you use?

Coping skills are what you do when you are feeling bad to help you feel good again. There are ineffective coping skills which either don't help at all or help a bit in the beginning but are bad in the long run, or effective coping skills which can truly help you. See how many from this list you use.

Ineffective:

Isolation
Neglecting Self - especially hygiene
Avoiding the problem
Abusing substances/self harm
Over or under eating
Constantly complaining
Blaming others
Not discussing feelings

Effective:

Seeking and accepting help from others
Taking care of your self
Looking at options, asking for help
Maintain balance in your life
Maintain boundaries, set limits
Express anger, guilt, fear or journal
Place no blame, make no judgements

So what coping skills, (effective or non-effective) do you use?

Bipolar Online Support Groups

Sorry everyone I've been going through some crazy stuff lately. Thought I might have to go to hospital there yesterday. It's been crazy around here, I think I'm depressed and manic all rolled into one. I can NOT handle both of my kids right now so one is visiting Grandma. I'll talk to my doctor (or at least his receptionist) tomorrow.

Anyways, wanted to point to some Online Bipolar groups that have been helping me lately in case others are in need:

CafeMom BipolarMoms - this is only for CafeMom members and to be a member you must be a mom. But it's been VERY helpful.

CafeMom BipolarDiaries - same deal as above.

DBSA Bipolar Forums - from Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, lots of members, great help

Bp Hope Ning Community - Ning communities are great. This is by the creators of Bp Hope Magazine. Forums, Groups, Blogs, Pics and more.

Self-Esteem

I've known I've had low self-esteem all my life, but I've realized recently that my self-esteem is almost non-existent.

What do you do when your self-esteem is so bad that you honestly feel that others are more important than you? I don't agree with any compliments people give me (except when I'm manic) and I feel like others should always come before me. I'm just not that important, that's how I feel. I'm sure most of you can identify with these thoughts at least somewhat.

The problem is, I only feel like I'll be important and worthy if I "succeed" which doesn't necessarily mean lots of money and cool job to me but I've been told that my expectations are way to high before. I really don't think I'm asking too much of myself but others seem to think so, both the average person and the "professional."

I've taken a self-esteem class and it didn't help because I didn't agree or believe in the statements we were told. Those bill of rights and such, I just don't feel they apply unless I've "succeeded."

Anyone want to weigh in on the subject? Feel free. Remember you can always post anonymously if you don't want to be connected with a blog or online identity of yours.